Category Archives: Insurance / Medical Services

SUNY Adirondack and Saratoga Hospital have entered into a partnership that guarantees individuals who complete the college’s sterile processing technician course an interview for open technician positions at the hospital. 

“This is an incredible opportunity for those interested in this rapidly growing field to get the training they need to secure a fulfilling, in-demand career,” said Caelynn Prylo, assistant dean for Continuing Education and Workforce Innovation at SUNY Adirondack. “SUNY Adirondack knows Saratoga Hospital needs skilled, highly trained applicants, and we are thrilled to be able to provide them.” 

Saratoga Hospital will offer interviews to participants who successfully complete the sterile processing class. The positions available at the hospital include a competitive benefits package with medical, dental and vacation time.  

The sterile processing technician course is one of two 12-week courses offered by SUNY Adirondack through Workforce Readiness Academies Program (WRAP) Reimagine Grant, funded by state and federal Departments of Labor. For no cost, qualified applicants can participate in sessions in sterile processing or python for data analytics. 

Interested individuals must be at least 18 years old and have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

SUNY Empire State College will enhance nursing program to address the state and nation’s critical nursing shortage

The college has received a $245,580 grant from the SUNY system that is expected to boost enrollment in the college’s nursing program and help address the state and nation’s critical nursing shortage, officials said.

 The funds are part of a $3 million SUNY Nursing Emergency Training Fund designed to enable more students to enroll in SUNY’s nursing programs. SUNY Empire will use the money to offset the initial cost of hiring a full-time faculty member and an operations coordinator in its nursing program. 

The funding, which will be available July 1 after the state budget is approved, will enable the college to increase enrollment at the School of Nursing and Allied Health by 100 students.

 In all, SUNY campuses have more than 70 accredited nursing programs. SUNY campuses were eligible to apply for funding of up to $250,000. The funding can be used in various ways, including curricula development, partnership expansion, and the purchase of instructional equipment and technology.

At SUNY Empire, most of the additional students are expected to come through the Multi-Award Nursing Program that SUNY Empire shares with Nassau Community College (NCC). NCC received $247,000 from the same SUNY funds to expand their nursing program.

New York state has expanded tax credits available through NY State of Health, New York’s health plan marketplace.

The expansion will result in more New Yorkers being eligible for financial assistance and the further reduction in health insurance premiums in New York state, officials said.

Through the American Rescue Plan, which President Joe Biden recently signed into law, increased tax credits are available to more than 150,000 consumers who are already enrolled in coverage, further lowering health care costs.

In addition, in June 2021, NY State of Health will for the first time expand tax credits to tens of thousands of additional New Yorkers with higher incomes who, before the American Rescue Plan, did not qualify for financial assistance to lower the cost of premiums, officials said.

It was also announced that the 2021 Open Enrollment Period will be extended through the end of this year. The announcements come on the 11th anniversary of President Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law.

SUNY Empire State College President Jim Malatras and Iroquois Healthcare Association (IHA) President and CEO Gary J. Fitzgerald have signed a partnership agreement to lower barriers to college degrees for IHA’s 54 hospitals with 300,000 employees from Buffalo to Albany through SUNY Empire State College’s Corporate and Community Partner Benefits program.

The program will also be offered to retirees, and family members.

Through the partnership, SUNY Empire will waive the registration fee and all full- and part-time matriculated students will receive a $100 Presidential Scholarship.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law. It took effective April 1.

NY State of Health, together with the state Department of Financial Services (DFS), have extended enrollment period available to New Yorkers during which eligible individuals will be able to enroll in insurance coverage through NY State of Health.

The step was taken in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency to further protect the public health of New Yorkers, so that individuals do not avoid seeking testing or medical care for fear of cost. The open enrollment period for coverage in 2020 had previously ended on Feb. 7.

NY State of Health has opened a special enrollment period for uninsured individuals who need to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan. The period runs through April 15.